Angry Fort Hare students vow to continue boycotting classes

DESPITE getting positive responses from university management, protesting University of Fort Hare (UFH) students say they are not going back to classes until their demands are implemented.

The students at the East London campus boycotted classes last Wednesday in protest over unresolved student matters.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday the student representative council (SRC) premier, Sonwabiso Mamkeli said the students have now gone from boycotting classes to shutting down the campus.

Mamkeli said the students were tired of getting positive responses only with no action. Among the list of the students’ demands are: ● The implementation of shuttle services; ● The allocation of food and book allowance with immediate effect;

● The compensation for laptops that were lost because of a weak security system at the Union Arcade residence;

● Reimbursement of the money that was overcharged from students in previous years at residence; and

● More student accommodation to be made available.

A response to students from management indicated that the demands by students were being addressed. This included student accommodation that was secured for 150 students. Management has agreed to compensate those students who lost their laptops. The university also said the 8% fee increment has been scrapped and that the final list for NSFAS beneficiaries would be made available tomorrow.

“Since last year they have promised to address these issues but they failed to do so, hence students said they were not backing down this time until they see results,” said Mamkeli.

When the Dispatch arrived at the campus yesterday, students were seen sitting outside while some were leaving campus.

Nursing student, Zola Ngesi said they were still waiting for classes to start when SRC leaders told them that the campus was on shutdown.

Ngesi said at first nursing students were excused from the class boycott, but were later told to join the shutdown.

“I support and understand that the SRC is fighting for us students, but we have tests and assignments that are due this week and we can’t do anything because the library and laboratories are closed,” said Ngesi.

Mamkeli said they were to meet with management sometime this week to decide on what was going to happen next. —